News

MAKUENI SET TO HOST INAUGURAL COMMUNITY RUN

The Local Organizing Committee for Ndukuma Dam Community Run on Thursday toured the dam area for route mapping as the clock ticks towards July 14th, when the event will be held. The team was led by County Director of Sports Ambrose Kisoi

The inaugural Community run aims to celebrate, nurture and develop local talent while promoting community awareness and participation in climate change resilience building.

The run will feature four races:

15kms Elite Race

10kms Community Race

5kms Corporate Race

3kms Kids Race and Fun Run

MAKUENI SET TO ESTABLISH MOBILITY DEVICES FITTING CENTRE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOPE INTERNATIONAL

Makueni is set to establish a wheelchair and other mobility devices fitting and modification centre in Wote town to address the mobility challenges of People with Disabilities (PWDs).

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has said Hope Mobility Kenya, which has a 5-year working partnership with the Government of Makueni County, will offer the technical support needed to establish this centre as well as train identified persons on wheelchair modification.

Hope Mobility founder Michael Panther who toured Makueni for issuance of 400 wheelchairs said this centre will be key in addressing the diverse disability needs. On many occasions, people with mobility challenges have been issued the wrong chairs in relation to their condition, thus endangering their health.

Governor Mutula says this centre will be enhanced to become a one-stop point for all disability issues ranging from vocational training, assessment, fitting and capacity building.

On Thursday, Makueni and Hope Mobility concluded a 3-day fitting and issuance of 400 wheelchairs.

MAKUENI SET TO COMMENCE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FOR CRUCIAL AGRICULTURAL PROJECT.

Mtito-Andei: May 3, 2024

Agriculture Chief Officer, Dr. Victoria Kyallo has officially concluded a 5-day training workshop for county extension officers on Participatory Integrated Community Development (PICD) for the National Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

The training sought to empower extension officers with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively introduce the project to their communities, and ensure active community participation by identifying key issues and opportunities and devising suitable interventions.

NAVCDP, a 5-year initiative, is focused on increasing market participation and value addition for farmers in specific value chains including mango, dairy, poultry, tomato, and apiculture (bee-keeping).

The PICD process emphasizes public participation, enabling all members of the community from the 30 wards to contribute to the identification of community problems and suggest potential interventions under the project. This inclusive approach aims to ensure that interventions are tailored to local needs and are thus more effective.

Following the conclusion of the workshop, extension officers will embark on a 21-day interaction period with farmers across all wards in the county. This period aims to foster community ownership and ensure the successful implementation of the project.

Dr. Kyallo emphasized the importance of the PICD process, describing it as a fundamental activity that forms the foundation of the project. By engaging the community from the onset, PICD ensures that interventions are not only relevant but also sustainable in the long term.

MAKUENI SELF-SERVICE PORTAL TO EASE PAYMENT OF FEES BY BUSINESS PEOPLE.

August 14, 2024

Makueni County is set to launch a self-service portal to simplify the payment of fees and charges for traders and businesspeople, Finance County Executive Committee Member Damaris Kavoi has announced.

The self-service portal will enable business owners to efficiently manage their transactions from the comfort of their own homes.

Through this platform, they will be able to register their businesses, view invoices and customer statements, make payments and access permits and licences without the need for in-person visits.

The new system represents a major upgrade from the current process, which involves manual intervention and has been slow and costly.

CEC Kavoi spoke in Wote on Wednesday during a media briefing on the County performance for the Financial Year 2023-2024.

In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Makueni County allocated 30% of its annual procurement budget to youth, women, and people with disabilities, fostering inclusivity, affirmative action and entrepreneurship.

The County Government also allocated over 40% of its annual procurement budget to local contractors, significantly exceeding the 20% threshold mandated by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act. This allocation aimed to strengthen local businesses and create job opportunities.

CEC Kavoi was accompanied by Chief Officers Boniface Mutua and John Nguni and directors from the County Treasury.

MAKUENI SEEKS PARTNERSHIP WITH OKOA MAMA NA MTOTO INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

Makueni County is set to collaborate with the Okoa Mama na Mtoto Initiative (OMMI) and Women in Development to enhance maternal, newborn, and child health services across the County.

This partnership comes amid rising neo-natal mortality rates in Makueni, currently standing at 26 % of deaths per 1,000 live births, a figure that underscores the urgent need for improved healthcare interventions.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Monday hosted officials from Women in Development Initiative, FIGO, (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) and the Centre for Reproductive Health, where discussions centered on eliminating preventable maternal deaths, reducing neonatal and child mortality, and addressing adolescent pregnancies.

According to Prof. Beatrice Kihara, the lead champion of the Okoa Mama na Mtoto Initiative, at least 90% of pregnant women should attend a minimum of four antenatal care (ANC) visits, while 90% of births should be assisted by skilled healthcare professionals.

Further, she emphasized that 80% of mothers and newborns require early postnatal and essential newborn care for optimal health outcomes.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr , an advocate for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), stressed the importance of nutrition for expectant mothers and infants.

The new partnership is expected to strengthen healthcare systems and improve the well-being of mothers and children across Makueni.

MAKUENI SEEKS PARTNERSHIP WITH ANGLICAN CHURCH AGRO-ENTERPRISE FOR FARMER TRAINING.

June 14, 2024

The County Steering Committee for the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), led by Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua, toured the Anglican Church of Kenya Resort Salama agro-enterprise on Friday to explore potential collaboration opportunities.

The enterprise specializes in apiculture (beekeeping), poultry, horticulture, and pig farming, serving as the primary foodstuff supplier for the Resort.

A key area identified for collaboration is the training of farmers on best agricultural practices to enhance profitability among small-scale farmers in the county.

“The Anglican Church of Kenya Resort Salama agro-enterprise offers a unique model of diversified farming that can greatly benefit our local farmers,” Mutua stated.

By partnering with them, the county aims to provide farmers with the necessary skills and knowledge to enhance their productivity and profitability.

Makueni Secures Ksh. 168 Million from World Bank

Makueni County has secured a Ksh168 million grant from the World Bank to advance its devolution development agenda.

The grant, disbursed through the national ministry of Devolution, under the Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP) is meant for capital investments and building capacities for improved devolved service delivery.

Makueni is among 13 counties that have received a total of Sh 1.9 Billion under the programme.

The 13 were competitively selected from the 47 counties upon achievement of respective disbursement linked parameters key among them audited accounts.

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa who presented cheques to the qualifying governors urged the county chiefs to channel the funds to the BIG FOUR agenda.

Deputy governor Adelina Mwau has said the funds will be channeled towards key sectors of the county economy such as Water, Agricultural value chain addition and health promotion

Makueni county executive for Finance and Social Economic planning Mary Kimanzi said the cabinet would sit to decide on the projects to invest the grant in, and which will positively impact on the lives of Makueni residents.

The event was held at the Laico Regency hotel in Nairobi.

Makueni Secures Funding to fight Malnutrition

Makueni has secured a Sh 30 million funding from Nutrition International to scale up efforts towards elimination of malnutrition in the next three years.

The grant is complimentary to the county’s Sh 36 million for the same cause, and which is meant to actualize the implementation of the County Nutrition Action Plan (CNAP) unveiled late 2019.

The Makueni CNAP targets the reduction of the prevalence of stunting among children under five years by 40%, childhood wasting to less than 5%, childhood underweight to less than 10%, and reduce malnutrition among older children and adolescent by 15%.

According to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2014, the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight in Makueni County was 25.1%, 2.1% and 10.2% respectively.

The funding agreement was signed today in Nairobi by the executive for Finance Mary Kimanzi and executive for Health Services Dr. Andrew Mulwa for the county government and witnessed by governor Kivutha Kibwana, deputy governor Adelina Mwau and the Nutrition International President Joel Spicer.

The county has also received 30,000 Euros (Sh 3.2 million) funding from Hivos East Africa to finance the Makueni Mango and indigenous food festival scheduled for this month at the Makueni Fruit Processing Plant, Kalamba.

The overall objective of the food festival is to promote mango production and consumption of indigenous food in Makueni, governor Kibwana has said.

The festival seeks to stimulate the rediscovery of the value of the Mango and indigenous foods through showcasing the rich gastronomic heritage of the Akamba and marketing the County as a Mango County and presenting the opportunities in the Mango value chain.

MAKUENI SEALS DEAL WITH KEVEVAPI TO STRENGTHEN LIVESTOCK HEALTH AND DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH

The Makueni County Government has signed a strategic partnership with the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) in a move set to revolutionize livestock health and boost the local economy.

The collaboration seeks to improve vaccine uptake in the county, which currently stands at a low 30 percent, with an ambitious target of reaching 70 percent. Through this deal, farmers will benefit from a more reliable, timely, and efficient supply of vaccines.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the fight against devastating livestock diseases, including Foot and Mouth Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), Caprine Pleuropneumonia, Rabies, Brucellosis, and Rift Valley Fever.

Speaking during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili hailed the partnership as a major boost to livestock farming, which contributes 20 percent to Makueni’s GDP and sustains 65 percent of households.

Her remarks were echoed by Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli, who reaffirmed the county’s pledge to fully support the initiative and ensure long-term success.

MAKUENI SAND AUTHORITY PLANTS 2,000 TREES TO BOOST CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.

The Makueni County Sand Conservation and Utilization Authority on Tuesday led a major tree planting exercise along Masaani River in Ukia Sub-ward, where more than 2,000 trees were planted to restore the river ecosystem and strengthen climate resilience.

The initiative brought together local residents and county officials in efforts aimed at reducing soil erosion, improving water retention, protecting sand harvesting areas and enhancing environmental sustainability.

Speaking during the exercise, Managing Director Ndambuki Kioko said the programme forms part of the County Government’s broader climate change resilience-building efforts through sustainable natural resource management and ecosystem restoration.